How we got here
Beginnings
- In 1927, John W. Hill opened the doors of his public relations office in Cleveland, Ohio, following an 18-year career as a reporter, editor, and financial columnist.
- When a client's bank went out of business during the Depression, he took into partnership the bank's public relations director, Donald Knowlton.
- Despite the difficult economic climate, Hill & Knowlton grew rapidly as Hill gained a reputation for effectiveness and as an advocate of enlightened corporate policies and straight-dealing with the press.
- Hill moved the firm's headquarters to New York in 1934, to serve as public relations counsel to the American Iron and Steel Institute. Knowlton stayed in Ohio and operated Hill & Knowlton of Cleveland as a separate entity for several years.
- Hill managed the firm until 1962, and remained active in it until shortly before his death in New York City in 1977.
The legacy
Today, John Hill’s ethical stance and judgment of priorities underpin client counsel around the globe. All our employees sign a Code of Professional Conduct (PDF, 44Kb) developed out of the ideals of our own people and industry best practice worldwide. Hill had no patience with the flamboyance of some of his competitors and often said there was little room in his firm for those he called "the great I-ams."
He believed in teams. A network of accomplished professionals. Today, those who inherit the leadership of the agency stick to his idea of what matters in public relations counseling. Experience. Quality. Integrity. Judgment.